banner1
Join Associated Content http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carine_Nadel

Friday, March 23, 2007

 

No Autographs Please!

There's absolutely nothing like a limousine ride to make you feel like a celebrity. Now that I've had one, I can state with confidence that it made me feel like Cinderella taking her ride in her pumpkin carriage. There I was, dressed up (with my prince), wearing cute shoes, being taken to my own personal ball. It was so I could speak to a group of doctors-but that's a middle-aged woman's equivalent of being the center of attention-at least in my way of viewing life.

For high school prom, I wore a dress similar to Cinderella-really. It was powder blue with white lace trim and a hoop skirt. Did I get a limo? No, in the 70's no one thought to do such a thing in our neighborhood. My date took me in his 10 year old opel. I'm sure it was a sight getting my dress in the car. And a bigger sight watching me literally pop out of it! What was I thinking when I bought that dress anyway?

My husband and I were old-fashioned, practical and poor. I still lived at home. He drove to our wedding in his corolla (we went home in this car after we were officially hitched). My parents drove me in their plymouth.

Through the years we'd see the big black cars with the dark windows and think, "Why does anyone need a chauffeur? Can't they take care of themselves?"

This week it was our turn to be the people with the luxury car and uniformed driver. And it wasn't for a short little hop of a trip either.

It all started a couple of weeks ago. I'm part of a volunteer advocacy group for one of my main rheumatoid arthritis drugs. When needed, we participate by speaking of our experiences as patients on this medication. After a little over 4 years it was my chance. A lovely lady called and asked if I could speak to a rheumatologist and his staff. It was about 150 miles away. For this, I was willing to give up half a day's pay at the job that helps pay the bills.

The first travel plan was to fly me up to the beach community. You know what the cliche about "best laid plans"! There were no direct flights and the timing was totally off. They decided it would be easiest to send the limousine. Somehow my husband was invited! This would be the first time since my "broken foot incident", except for the birth of our grandson, that we'd get to spend the day together. What an adventure!

At exactly noon, we were greeted by a Mercedes! The driver opened both the passenger doors for us and whisked us away for the next step of our new experience.

No one could see us, but we could see them-craning their necks to try and see who was in the back seat.

We arrived rested and with enough free time to take a much needed walk with window shopping. Even some coffee and lunch at the local Starbucks.

The meeting, dinner and my speech went wonderfully. Everyone from my group's contacts, to the doctors and their staff were so nice and they were genuinely excited to have me there. I was made to feel even more like the belle of the ball.

Before we knew it, goodbyes were in order and we were again met with the open passenger doors of our "carriage". This time we were whisked back to our home and everyday lives. Just as if I was Cinderella when she hears the first gong.

Like Cinderella, we arrived at the stroke of midnight-everything went back to normal very quickly. The driver practically burnt rubber leaving our housing tract. We walked in and I had chores to do. There was letting the dog out, cleaning and replenishing the animals water bowl, making my lunch for work, getting my breakfast set up and putting out my clothes. It was sure nice while it lasted.

I will never forget my first limo ride. Maybe, by including the word "first" in the prior sentence, the odds of being minor celebrity for a day will happen again.

Comments:
Isn't it awful that children are getting to do things that we never experienced? I have never been in a limo. but would love it! Maybe, I'll ask for one for our 55th anniversary. Either that or a Bungee Jump --- lol
My "Honey" did get to take a private jet for business once and thought it was fantastic. The pilot and co-pilot waited on him and his guest and couldn't do enough to keep them happy. I wish he had taken me along, so I could have been impressed, too. It only cost $6000.00 for the day.

Hey, is your arthritis medicine really good? My grandson's fiance has lupus and arthritis. She is only 19 and takes chemo drugs for flare ups. I have never been really crazy about rheumatologists, but they do have a place in medicine.

Congrats of a sucessful speech.
 
Kacey, I'm on Enbrel, but take it w/ methotraxate and plaquenil. the metho is a chemo drug. I also have to take leucovorin calcium b/c of the damage the metho just recently started to do to my liver. I'm also on fosamax d. It's quite the potent molotov cocktail!
 
One of the perks for that "second time around" - we had the limo whisk us away after our wedding and also took a limo on the road to Hana in Maui on our honeymoon. Gee, that was fun to reminisce about that special time. :)

I don't recommend getting remarried just to get the limo ride (smile) so I'm glad you got to experience it anyway. Great fun, wasn't it?
 
Hey Carine
I can actually comment now! Sounds like a wonderful experience to add to the ones you've been having lately. Never been in a limo, but it sounds fun.
 
Kathy, thanks for dropping by and I'm so glad my column brought back happy memories!
 
Dawn, glad to see your name and visit! I was just on surewoman.com yesterday. Of course I usually try to see what's going on there a couple of times during the week. Love the new blog!
 
Well, at least you limo ride was better than mine! My driver had an attitude---as if I didn't deserve to be driven by him. I should've complained to MSNBC-TV about it but I chose to keep silent so they would invite me back :)

Peace & Blessings,
Beverly Mahone
www.thebabyboomerdiva.com
 
Oh Bev, sorry. Ours was rather an interesting person-in fact, until he started getting a might weird at the end, I wanted to interview him and write up an article!
 
I've never ever ridden in a limo before but that's a cool story. As a Michigander who lives close to the Motor City, I do have a complaint. I noticed that you weren't capitalizing the names of cars, particularly American made cars like (Buick) Opel and Plymouth, but you capitalized Mercedes.

American made cars deserve capital letters too!
 
Right you are Dave! I should have caught that myself.
 
Dear Carine...sounds like you did a great service and had a wonderful time as well. Good for you chica! ;)

We always take a town car or Limo to LAX...through the years we've learned that the little more it costs, over the shuttle, or parking, is worth it, especially at the end of a trip when luggage is lost and traffic is horrendous and you don't want to lose that special glow from the getaway too soon.

Ciao bella...
 
Teri, I do hope to be able to do it again. and hubby couldn't back seat drive!
 
Post a Comment



<< Home

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?